Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton Joins Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, who most recently served for 16 years as a justice on the Supreme Court of Ohio, will join Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP, where she will continue to pursue her passion for public service and provide strategic legal counsel to the firm's clients.

"Vorys has been an important part of Ohio's legal community for more than 100 years and has a distinguished tradition of public service," Stratton said. "The Vorys family welcomed me with open arms. I'm thrilled about this opportunity that will allow me both to provide counsel to the firm's clients and expand my criminal justice advocacy work at the state and national levels. I could not envision a more natural fit."

Stratton will work with firm clients in a variety of areas, including health care, litigation and appellate work. She will also assist Vorys Health Care Advisors, a wholly owned subsidiary of the firm that helps health care providers, business decision makers and professional associations deal with health care issues.

"In addition to being a highly respected judge and an exceptional attorney, Eve is a tireless advocate for military veterans and adults and children with mental illness in the criminal justice system. At Vorys, she will continue her efforts in these areas. We are proud to collaborate with her on these initiatives," Managing Partner Russ Gertmenian said. "Eve's extensive appellate and trial experience will strengthen Vorys' nationally recognized legal practice, allow us to better serve our clients and positively impact the entire firm."

Stratton spent the first nine years of her legal career as a central Ohio trial lawyer. In 1988, she became the first woman elected judge of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court. Stratton was appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court by Governor George Voinovich in 1996 and was elected by Ohio voters to three six-year terms. While serving on the Ohio Supreme Court, Stratton formed and chaired the Supreme Court of Ohio Advisory Committee on Mental Illness & the Courts, which since its formation in 2001 has helped establish 38 mental health courts, recommended changes to Medicaid and advocated for a new Juvenile Competency Statute. Recently, she has focused on developing veterans' courts, which assist returning veterans with post traumatic stress and other issues that may lead them to criminal activity.

Stratton will continue to serve with Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine as co-chair of the Attorney General's Task Force on Criminal Justice and Mental Illness. The Task Force continues the work of the Supreme Court of Ohio Advisory Committee on Mental Illness & the Courts. She will also continue to serve in a leadership capacity at the Ohio Military and Veterans Legal Assistance Program, which connects veterans and military families to a statewide system of referrals to pro bono lawyers, bar associations, legal aid and law school clinics.

Stratton's work has resulted in many honors, such as the Congressional Coalition on Adoption's Angels Award, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Adoption Excellence Award and the Ohio State Association of Veterans' Service Commissions Outstanding Service Award. In 2008, she received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Ranking among the nation's most prestigious awards, this honor pays tribute to American citizens of diverse origins for their outstanding contributions to their communities, their nation and the world.

Stratton was born to missionary parents in Bangkok and spent her childhood in boarding schools in South Vietnam and Malaysia. When she turned 18, she came to the United States and worked her way through both college and law school. She earned her J.D. from The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law in 1978. Stratton is married to John A. Lundberg III and has two grown sons, Luke and Tyler.

About Vorys:

Vorys was established in 1909 and has grown to be one of the largest Ohio-based law firms with nearly 375 attorneys in six offices in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Akron, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; and Houston, Texas. Vorys currently ranks as one of the 200 largest law firms in the United States according to American Lawyer magazine.

SOURCE Vorys